Refusing to give in, Joanlanne came back from being down a set, and rallied in the deciding set to win the District 2 Class AA tennis singles championship Monday over defending winner Kendra Croker of Scranton Prep.

"I have that saying 'fight back' everywhere," Joanlanne said. "I have it on T-shirts and my sneakers. That helped a lot.

"I'm just so happy."

This entire season has been about fighting back for Joanlanne, who is only a sophomore. She returned as the District 2 Class AA runner-up to Croker.

Then, Wyoming Seminary coach Mike Balutanski, a respected leader and past USTA Middle States coach of the year, fell ill to a stroke.

In his absence, Joanlanne's mother, Allison, the tennis coach at Misericordia University, took over.

With Balutanski and a spirited and energetic group of teammates watching from the observation deck at Birchwood Tennis and Fitness Club, Joanlanne fought back.

She lost the first set, 6-3, as Croker showed great power in her forehand returns and a steady serve.

In the second set, she staved off a late surge from Croker, who closed to within 5-4 after a lengthy point that went to five deuces. Joanlanne won the set, 6-4.

"I just told myself after the first set that it's not a one-set match," Joanlanne said. "I just had to be more patient. I kept myself up, and I have come back from being down 5-0 before, so I knew I could come back."

After falling behind, 4-1, in the deciding set, Joanlanne found her rhythm and gained confidence with each winner. Leading, 5-4, and Croker not giving in, Joanlanne kept looking to her teammates and won after the second deuce, pumping her first in victory, and claiming the gold medal.

"My teammates are like a family," said Joanlanne, who acknowledged that she could hear the fans cheering through the Plexiglas. "We do everything together. They are so supportive."

Wyoming Seminary's Anita Ghosh lost to Croker in the semifinals, 7-5, 6-3. And that test may have taken something out of the defending champion, who is also ahead of schedule in her return from a torn ACL that she suffered eight months ago.

""I am so proud of how I played," Croker said. "Physically, though, I am exhausted."

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